Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 2

Ancient Songs, Ballads, & Dance Tunes, Sheet Music & Lyrics - online book

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	554                                  ENGLISH SONG AND BALLAD MUSIC.
	farmer who, being overtaken by a highwayman while on his road to pay his rent, pretends that his money is concealed in his saddle; the highwayman demanding it, the farmer throws the saddle over the hedge, and the thief scrambles after it, leaving his horse behind. The opportunity of exchange is not lost upon the far­mer, who rides away with the highwayman's horse, and all his recently-acquired booty. The Rant is a dance of which I can give no account. It seems to have been a rustic dance of the jig kind. In Mrs Centlivre's Comedy, The Platonick Lady, 1707, where the dancing-master proposes to dance a Courant with Mrs. Dowdy, she, supposing him to mean a Rant, answers, " Ay, a Rant with all my heart;" but when he " leads her about," she says: " Hy, hy, do you call this dancing? ads heartlikins, in my thoughts 'tis plain walking: I'll shew you one of our country dances; play me a Jig." [Dances an awkward Jig..] Caper. " 0 dear, madam, you'll quite spoil your steps." Mrs. D. " Don't tell me that—I was counted one of the best dancers in the parish, zo I was." Mrs. Peeper. " Ay, round a Maypole."
	" Stand ! stand ! " says the bellman, "The constable now come before, And if a just story you tell, man, I'll light you home to your own door. This is a very late season, Which surely no honest men keep, And therefore it is but just reason That you in the Compter should sleep." The constable, on the next day, sir, This comical matter to clear, The gentleman hurried away, sir, Before my Lord Mayor to appear. " My Lord, give ear to my story, While I the truth do relate, The gentleman standing before you Was seiz'd by me at Cripplegate.	I nothing could hear but his singing, Wherefore in the Compter he lay, And therefore this morning I bring him To hear what your Lordship will say." . . O then bespoke my Lord's daughter, And for him did thus intercede, " Dear father, you'll hear that, hereafter, . This is but a wager indeed." .... " Well, daughter, 1 grant your petition, The gentleman home may repair ; But yet, 'tis on this condition, Of paying my officers there." .... Thus seeing he might be released, If he his fees did but pay, He then was very well pleased, And so he went singing away. Dal derra, rara, &c.